Covid cases go UP by 2.7% week-on-week to 6,753 after huge spike in testing

The UK today recorded a small increase in coronavirus cases compared to last week after a huge testing spike following the reopening of England’s schools.

Department of Health figures show there were 6,753 positive tests in the past 24 hours, which was up 2.7 per cent on last Thursday’s figures.

Officials are carrying out a record number of tests after millions of primary and secondary pupils returned to classrooms for the first time in two months this week. 

There were more than 1.5million PCR and rapid lateral flow tests carried out in the last day compared to the 800,000 on average conducted before Monday.   

However, Covid deaths – a more important metric now the most vulnerable are vaccinated – are continuing to plummet, falling by 25 per cent in the past week to 181.

The small week-on-week increase in infections could be a result of increased social contacts in schools or it may simply be down to the fact more tests are being conducted. Scientists have said throughout the pandemic that the more people you test, the more cases you find.